UUP Councillor Darryl Wilson added: “My thoughts and prayers go out to the family at this very sad time. It’s another death on the roads and so close to Christmas makes it all the more tragic.

“I think it reiterates the message that people should slow down and we all have a duty to try and share the road to zero and make sure that these fatalities come to an end.”

The driver of the car failed to stop at the scene after the tragic collision at around 6.30pm.

However, a man was located in the Magherafelt area several hours later after police enquiries.

He was released on police bail pending further enquiries, the PSNI confirmed.

A spokesman said: "Police in Coleraine can confirm that the teenage boy who died following a road traffic collision at Newbridge Road on Saturday evening was 13 year old Reece Meenan from the Coleraine area.

"Reece died from injuries sustained after being struck by a car at around 6.30pm. A 23 year old man arrested in relation to this incident has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

"Detective Sergeant Wallace has appealed for anyone who witnessed the collision or who has any information to contact police in Coleraine or officers at the Collision Investigation Unit on 101."